Bob Rodriguez

Lessons Offered

Where are Lessons Offered

About Me

Throughout his career Bob has worked with such great artists as Kenny Wheeler, Carla Bley, Steve Swallow, Billy Hart and others. He has performed at such venues as New York's Blue Note, Birdland, Iridium, Sweet Rhythm, Jazz At the Kitano, Cornelia Street Cafe, Trumpets, Cecil's to name a few. Bob has played broadcast performances on NPR in Texas, Maine and New York.
"Pianist, composer and educator Bob Rodriguez is a distinctively imaginative musician possessing virtuoso technique, extraordinary harmonic sensibility and an incomparable approach to combining aspects of European classical and latin music with modern jazz".
- Russ Musto-
In addition to his work as a performer, Rodriguez is a very much in demand clinician/instructor in the world of jazz and classical education.
Bob's catalog of work includes seven CDs as a leader

My Musical Education Background

A student of Richie Beirach, George Shearing, Bob studied privately with Bill Gidney, a bebop pianist who had accompanied Charlie Parker. Mr. Rodriguez studied harmony formally at the Modern Music School of Cleveland with Phil Rizzo (a former Stan Kenton arranger) and twelve-tone composition at Baldwin Wallace University. Later, he spent time analyzing modern classical techniques under the tutelage of classical/jazz pianist Pat Pace and Richie Beirach. Additional studies at the Advanced BMI workshop. Teachers included with Mannie Alban, Roger Kellaway and Jim McNeely and other special guest composers.

Genres and Subjects Taught

Jazz Piano, Improvisation, Harmony, arranging and composition.

Skype lessons are available. Different rates apply for online lessons. 

Lesson Rates

$80.00 per hour. $125.00 per hour for in home lesson. For Skype lessons, I offer 30 minute lessons at $40.00, 45 minute lessons at $55.00 or 60 minute lessonsat $70.00.  Payments can be made using Paypal, Zelle and Venmo.

Ages / Skill Levels Taught

All ages accepted. Audition-interview/no charge.

My Certifications and Awards

Bob was the recipient of a commission by Chamber Music America to write a piece for Tina Marsh and the Creative Opportunity Orchestra. His piece "Shrouded Heart" was created with support from Chamber Music America's New Work: Creation and Presentation Program, funded through the generosity of the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation.

My Musical Influences

My inspiration of counterpoint and melody starts from Bach. The harmony that I feel close to comes from Chopin and 20 century classical composers. My jazz approach to harmony is inspired from jazz pianists Bill Evans, and Richie Beirach.
The looseness of soloing for piano from Paul Bley, and Keith Jarrett have made great strides in jazz piano playing. Still the grandfather of all jazz piano still for me is Art Tatum. He basically encompassed all of the techniques that I mentioned above.

Service Area

Craig
Demarest, NJ

Craig Vice President, Construction and Development at Marx Realty & Improvement Co., Inc. I am an adult student with no prior experience with little time to learn. Bob created a schedule that even i can do. He did started me with interesting work right from the beginning and allowing me to use sophisticated pieces he was able to keep my interest while teaching me basic concepts without once having to learn Mary Had A Little Lamb. May 20, 2010, Craig was Bob's client